Glove finishing machine



June 10, 1958 BEASLEY 2,838,216 I GLOVE FINISHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. '7, 1955 INVENTOR.

MAX/14- BEASLEY ATTORNEY M. M. BEASLEY GLOVE FINISHING MACHINE June 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. MAX M. BEASLEY Zmjm ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 M. M. BEASLEY GLOVE FINISHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NovfY', 1955 INVENTOR.

MAX M. BEASLEY a mant m ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 M. M. BEASLEY 2,838,216 GLOVE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

INVENTOR.

MAY IVI- BEASLEY BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,838,216 GLOVE FINISHINGMACHINE Max M. Beasley, Chattanooga, Tenn. Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,278

11 Claims. (Cl. 223 s7 v This invention relates to a machine for turning and pressing gloves and more particularly to a novel means for stripping the gloves from the heating forms of the machine. This invention is an improvement on the type of machine disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,286,059, issued June 9, 1942. a

It is an object of this invention to provide a glove finishing machine which will automatically turn a glove from an inside-out position to a right-side-out position on a glove heating form, automatically strip the glove from the heating form after a predetermined heating period, and press and discharge the glove from the machine in a novel and efficient manner. H

'Another object. of this invention is-to provide aglove finishing machine in which a plurality of glove heating forms are adapted to move intermittently from a gloveturning station to a glove-stripping-station and in which i a glove-stripping mechanism is adapted to move toward stripping engagement With'a gloveheating form when the forms are stationary and away from the forniwhen the forms are in motion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a glove stripping and pressing mechanism comprising a pivoted frame, the free end of whichsupports a pair of revoluble rollers arranged on opposite sides of glove heating forms, the frame being adapted to pivotthe rollers into stripping engagement-with a glove on one of the forms;

' A further object of thls inventionis to provide a glove stripping mechanism-comprisinga' pivoted frame, the free end of which supports a pair of revoluble rollers adapted to rotate in'opposite directions and 'on opposite sides of intermittentlyrotating glove heating forms, the frame be ing 'ecce ntrically' connected to theglove form drive means, for oscillating'the rollers into stripping engagementnwith theglove'on a stationaryheating form. a

7 Another object ofthis invention is to provide a glove stripping mechanism comprising a pivoted frame, the

free end of which supports-a pairofrevoluble rollers adapted to rotate in opposite directions by a continuous beltpassing between the rollers and driven by a driveroller coaxial with the frame pivoting journal, and-an eccentric drive means for oscillating the pivoted frame toward and away from stripping engagement with a glove heating form. I

Further objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction. with thedrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front. elevation of the improved machine;

. Fig. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts of the strippingroller frame being broken away;

. Fig. 3 is atop plan view. of the improved machine;

Fig. 4 isa section. taken along the lines 4-4.of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a' partial view similar to 'JFig; 2 in which the stripping mechanism has been "pivoted to its lower position; and 3 I Fig. 6 is a section taken along the lines,6- -6 of Fig.3.

2,838,216 Patented June 10, 1958 heating forms 12 in such a manner that they rotate in termittently and out of phase in the same vertical plane, forms 11 rotating in the opposite direction from forms 12. Forms 11 arerotated by a shaft 13 journalled in the front and back walls of frame 10 at 14 and 15, respectively. The shaft 13 is given intermittent rotation through Geneva wheel '16 driven by the Geneva pin 17 and disc 18 mounted on shaft 19 (Fig. 6). Shaft 19 is given continuous rotary motion through reduction gear unit 20 mounted on bracket 21 within the frame 10.

"Heating forms 12 are mounted on shaft 22 journaled in the front and back walls of frame 10 at 23 and 24, respectively. The heating forms 12 contain any suitable type electrical heating means and are supplied with electricity through conductors within shaft 22, not shown. The conductors terminate in commutator disc 25 fixed to shaft 22,and the commutator disc engages electric contact fingers 26 and 27 (Fig. 3). Shaft 22 isralso intermittently driven through 2. Geneva wheel 28 by Geneva pin 29 and disc 30 mounted on shaft 31. Shaft 31 is given continuous rotary motion through reduction gear unit 32 supported by bracket 33. Reduction gear units 20and 32 are driven synchronously through connecting shaft 34 and couplings 35 and 36. A motor 37 mounted on the back wall of frame 10 drives sheave 38 which in turn drives sheave 39 mounted on the stub shaft 40 of reduction gear unit 20 through belt 41.

Mounted on the front wall of frame 10 below the turning'form 11 is a tucking mechanism comprising a plunger 42 for each finger of a glove and a pair of thumb plun V ers'43 mounted upon a vertical slide 44 adapted to move in a stationary guideway 45. The slide 44 is given vertical reciprocating motion through connecting link '46 and crank arm 47. Crank arm 47 is given continuous rotary motion through shaft 19.

' Each turning form 11 comprises a hollow finger tube 49, adapted to receive each finger of a glove, and a thumb tube on each side of the finger tubes, so that each form will be adapted to receive a right or a left hand glove. In amanner well known to the art, a glove in inside-out position is placed upon a turning form at a mounting station, and the turning form is intermittently rotated until it reaches the tucking station, where the tucking mechanism is elevated, allowing the finger and thumb plungers 42 and 43 to tuck the fingers and thumb of the glove into the ends of the finger and thumb tubes 2 49 and 50 of a turning form 11. As the tucking mech- Referring now to the drawings in more detail, a frame 1 10 is adapted to support hollow turning forms 11 and anism is lowered, the turning form 11 containing the glove having the tucked fingers, proceeds to the turning station where the glove is removed from the turning form and turned right-side-out over a heating form 12.

When a turning form 11, carrying a glove tucked and ready to be turned, is in stationary alignment with a glove heating form 12, a glove turning mechanism is actuated to grasp the cuffs of the glove, carry the culfs over the snugly over the glove heating form.

To perform the glove turning operation, a mechanism somewhat similar to that disclosed in Fig. 11 of U. S. Patent No.-2,286,059 is employed. A pair of clamps 51 and 52, arranged respectivelyabove and below the turning form at its turning station, vare mounted on bracket 53 fixed to a horizontal slide 54 adapted to slide on horizontal way 55 fixedly mounted to the front wall of frame 10. Also mounted on the front wall of frame 10 52 is actuated simultaneously with the upper clamp 51 through connecting link 62.

The bottom of horizontal slide 54 comprises a rack 63 driven by gear 64 mounted on shaft 65 journalcd in the front and back walls of frame at 66 and 67, respectively. In order that the slide 54 will have a reciprocating horizontal motion, a pinion 68 mounted on shaft 65 is driven by a drive rack 69 which is given a reciprocating motion by drive rack crank 70 continuously rotated from reduction gear unit 32. Guide arm 71 engages guide roller 72 to insure proper mesh between pinion 68 and rack 69. Fig. 3 shows the position of the drive rack 69 when theclamps 51 and 52 are closed and traveling as in Fig. 1. Figs. 2 and 4 disclose the extended position of the drive rack 69 when the clamps 51 and 52 are open adjacent a turning form 11.

The glove turning mechanism is synchronized through its driving means with the other machine operations so that the open clamps 51 and 52 will engage the glove cuffs on a turning form 11 at the turning station and will be carried by the horizontal slide 54 toward the glove heating form 12. As the cam roller 60 rides along the depressed portion 57 of the cam 56, the clamps 51 and 52 will remain open. As the cam roller 60 is guided over the elevated portion 59 of the cam, the clamps 51 and 52 will close tightly on the cuffs of the gloves and retain that position until the gloves have been completely turned right-sidc-out upon the glove heating form and until the cam roller 60 rides down upon the depressed portion 58 of the cam, at which time the clamps 51 and 52 will open and release the glove cuffs.

As the glove turning clamps 51 and 52 pass over the glove heating form 12, the glove turning forms 11 are rotated to their next successive stations. After the clamps have released the glove on the glove heating form 12, the motion of horizontal slide 54 is reversed, carrying the clamps 51 and 52 back across the glove heating form and across the next glove turning form. As the clamps go over the glove turning form, the glove heating forms are rotated to their next successive stations, and the glove turning cycle is repeated.

The improved stripping mechanism of this machine comprises a pair of stripping rollers 73 and 74 mounted in a stripping frame 75 to coact with each other and arranged on opposite sides of the glove heating forms 12. The stripping frame 75 extends transversely through from opening 76 and rear opening 77 in the frame 10 and is journaled at 78 and 79 to freely pivot about fixed bearings, but concentrically with and independently of roller drive shaft 80.

An eccentric 81 is mounted on shaft 82 journaled to the front wall of frame 10 at 83 and coupled to Geneva shaft 31. The eccentric 81 is connected to the stripping; frame 75 by means of connecting rod 84. The eccentric 81 is so mounted and synchronized with the reduction gear unit 32 that the stripping rollers 73 and 74 are given a vertical oscillatory motion. The upward stroke of the stripping rollers occurs at the same time that the glove heating forms 12 are stationary, so that the rollers will engage the fingertips of a glove on a form in stripping position, and the downward stroke of the rollers occurs when the glove heating forms are being rotated to their next successive stations.

The rollers 73 and 74 are best adapted for stripping engagement when one of the rollers 73 is journaled in sliding bearings 85, the bearings being urged toward roller 74 by means of springs 86. The rollers are thus adapted to yield with respect to each other in order to allow gloves of different thicknesses to pass between them, without sacrifice of their gripping effect upon the glove.

The rollers 73 and 74 are driven by means of a continuous belt 87, which passes between the rollers 73 and 74, around the roller 73 and around a drive roller 88 mounted on drive shaft 80. This arrangement of the belt and rollers will cause rollers 73 and 74 to rotate in opposite directions so as to obtain the necessary stripping action. An adjusting roller 89 may be pivoted to the frame 75 by means of adjusting links 90 as a belt tensioning means, the tension being provided by springs 91 fixed in spring bracket 92. The drive roller 88 and drive shaft may be driven in any suitable means, but a preferred method is best disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. One end of roller drive shaft 80 is provided with miter gears 93 vvhicharc in turn driven through sprocket 94, chain 95, and sprocket 96 from reduction gear unit 20. Idler sprocket 97 is provided to support chain 95.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Power is transmitted from motor 37 to the reduction gear units 2'!) and 32 through elements 3436 and 3?; 41. The reduction gear units 20 and 32 cause the turning forms 11 and heating forms 12, respectively, to rotate intermittently in opposite directions and are so synchronized through Geneva motions 16, 17, and 18, and 28, 29 and 30, respectively, that the rotation of the turning forms is out of phase with the rotation of the heating forms. Reduction gear unit 20 also operates the glove tucking mechanism 42-47 and drives the stripping rollers '73 and 74 and continuous belt 87 through drive roller 38, shaft 80 and elements 9397. Reduction gear unit 32 operates the glove turning mechanism 51-72 and provides the glove stripping mechanism with vertical oscillatory motion.

The procedure for mounting, tucking and turning the gloves is quite similar to that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,286,059. A glove in inside-out position is mounted on the upper-most turning form 11, as best disclosed in Fig. l. The forms 11 are intermittently rotated counterclockwise, at a time, until the form has reached the tucking station at its lower-most position. While the turning form is stationary, the tucking mechanism is operated to tuck the tips of the glove fingers into the ends of the finger tubes 49 and thumb tube 50. The finger tips are held in tucked position by spring clamps within the tubes, not shown.

The turning form 11 is then rotated to the turning station. The clamps 51 and 52 of the turning mechanism engage the cuffs of the glove, withdraw the glove from the turning form, and turn the glove right-side-out over an aligned stationary glove heating form. The glove turning forms are then rotated until another tucked glove is at the turning station.

After the clamps have released the glove on the glove heating form and are returned to theiroriginal position adjacent the next glove turning form, the glove heating form is intermittently rotated in a clockwise direction at intervals of 90. By the time the glove heating form has reached the glove stripping station, the glove in its right-side-out position has been thoroughly heated to assume a satisfactory pressed shape.

As the glove heating form, carrying a glove, assumes a stationary stripping position, the glove stripping frame 75 is oscillated upward by the eccentric 81 until the rollers 73 and 74, rotated by the belt 87, engage the fingertips of the glove on the heating form. The stripping rollers then grasp the fingertips and pull the glove down between the rollers at the same time the frame 75 begins its downward oscillating stroke. The glove is simultaneously pressed and conveyed between roller 74 and belt 87 until it is clear of the rollers. The glove is then conveyed by the belt 87 to the 'rear of the frame 10 through opening 77 and over drive roller 88, where it is deposited into a suitable receptacle or upon another conveyor belt, not shown. As the stripping frame 75 descends to its lower pivoted position as disclosed in Fig. 5, the glove heating form 12 is rotated through another interval of 90' so that the form just stripped assumes its stationary turning position to receive another glove from the turning form 11.

Furthermore, the links 90,'carrying the adjusting'roller 89, may be. independently adjusted by increasing or reducing tension in either spring 91,1to keep belt 87 centered on rollers 73 and 80. If the belt 87'runs to-one side of the rollers, the roller 89 may be loweredon that side until the belt regains a central course. To prevent binding of roller 89 as a result of adjustment, the roller is supported on spherical hearings in links 90.

The end connections of connecting rod 84 with eccentric 81 and, stripping frame 75 comprise bearings of the self-aligning type, such as spherical bearings, to provide for vertical misalignment caused by the oscillatory movement of .the stripping frame. I

It has been found that an eccentricity of approximately one inch, with a consequent connecting rod vertical stroke of two inches, operates satisfactorily on a machine frame approximately 40 inches high supporting a glove heating form approximately fifteen inches in length. The dimensions are not criticalso long as the pivoted stripping frame has an oscillating stroke sufiicient for the rollers to grip the fingertips of the glove mounted on a heating form in stripping position and for the rollers to completely clear the heating form when the form is rotating.

Without sacrificing efiiciency, the novel stripping mechanism of this invention employs within a minimum space a minimum of mechanical elements, namely, a pivoted frame, a pair of rollers, a single continuous belt, and an eccentric for oscillating the frame synchronously with the entire tucking, turning, heating and stripping operation of the machine. The novel stripping mechanism eliminates the stripping rods formerly incorporated in the glove heating forms as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,286,059. The improved stripping mechanism also eliminates all gearing near the stripping station, which formerly was a source of much trouble due to gloves, and especially glove thumbs, being caught between the gear teeth and causing serious damage to the machine. Furthermore, the mechanism combines the operation of stripping with that of pressing and conveying the gloves to a discharge point away from the operating mechanisms of the machine. t

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention, Without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by. that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a glove pressing and stripping machine, a glove form, a substantially longitudinal frame pivoted at one end about a fixed axis spaced from and perpendicular to the long axis of said glove form, a pair of revoluble coacting rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of said glove form, said rollers being journaled on and near the opposite endof said frame, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for pivoting said frame about said fixed axis to move the coacting portions of said rollers in an arc tangential to the long axis of said glove form to enable the rotating rollers to engage and strip a glove from said form.

2. In a glove pressing and stripping machine, a glove form, a substantially longitudinal frame journaled at one end for pivotal movement about a fixed support spaced from said glove form, a pair of revoluble coacting stripping rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of said glove form, said rollers being journaled on and near the opposite end of said frame, a drive roller coaxial with the journaled end of said frame, a continuous belt passing between the stripping rollers and around the drive roller, drive meansfor rotating the drive roller, and means for pivoting said frame about said fixed support to move the coacting portions of said rollers in a limited arc tangential said holder, means for intermittently rotating the holder,

means for stripping a glove from a form comprising a pair of revoluble coacting rollers arranged for, rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of a stationary glove form, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for moving said rollers in synchronism with said holder rotating means so that the coacting portions of said rollers move he; path substantially tangential to the long axis of said glove form, said rollers moving toward and engaging a glove on said glove form when said form is stationary, and said rollers moving away from said glove form when said glove form is being rotated. r

5. In a glove pressing and stripping machine, a form holder, a series of glove heating forms extending from said holder, means for intermittently rotating the holder, means for stripping a glove from a form comprising a substantially longitudinal frame pivoted at one end about a fixed axis spaced from said glove forms in stationary stripping position, a pair of revoluble coacting rollers, arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of a glove form in stripping position, said rollers being journaled on and near the opposite unpivotedend of said frame, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and meansfor pivoting said frame about said fixed axis in synchronism with said form holder rotating means to move the coacting portions of said rollers in an arc tangential to the long axis of said glove form, said rollers moving toward. and env gaging a glove form in stationary stripping position, and said rollers moving away from said glove form when said form holder is being rotated.

6. In a glove pressing and stripping machine, a form holder, a series ofv glove heating forms extending from said holder, means for intermittently'rotating the holder, means for stripping a glove from a fonn comprising a substantially longitudinal frame journaled at one end for pivotal movement about a fixed support spaced from said glove'forms, a pair of revoluble coacting stripping rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of a glove form in stationary stripping position, said stripping rollers being journaled on and near the opposite unpivoted end of said frame, a drive roller coaxial with the journaled end of said frame, a continuous belt passing between the stripping rollers and around the drive roller, and drive means for synchronously rotating the form holder, rotating the drive roller and pivoting said frame about said fixed'support to move the coacting portions of said rollers in a limited arc tangential to the long axis of said glove form, said stripping rollers moving toward and engaging a glove form in stationary stripping position and said stripping rollers moving away from said glove forms when said form holder is being rotated.

7. A glove pressing and stripping machine comprising a housing having spaced front and back walls, a form holder rotatably mounted on said front wall, a series of glove heating forms extending from said holder, a shaft rotatably mounted on said rear wall, a substantially rectangular frame extending longitudinally through said front and rear walls and freely journaled at its rear end' around the drive roller, eccentric means mounted in said housing and connected to said frame for oscillating said frame about said shaft to move the coacting portions of said stripping rollers in a limited arc tangential to the long axis of a glove form in stationary stripping position, and synchronous drive means for continuously rotating said shaft, for intermittently rotating said form holder and for driving said eccentric'means so that said stripping rollers will move toward and engage a glove form when said forms are stationary and said rollers will move away from said glove forms when said forms are rotating.

8. In a glove finishing machine a plurality of turning forms, means for intermittently rotating said forms through a mounting station, a tucking station, and a turning station, a plurality of heating forms in spaced relation to the turning forms, means for rotating the heating forms intermittently through the turning station and into a stripping station and in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the turning forms, one of the turning forms and one of the heating forms being simultaneously at rest at the turning station during a predetermined period, reciprocating cutl clamps adapted to turn a glove from one of the turning forms to one of the heating forms in the turning station, means at the tucking station to inwardly tuck the fingers and thumb of the glove, a stripping mechanism adapted to strip a glove from a stationary heating form at the stripping station comprising a pair of revoluble coacting rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of a glove heating form at the stripping station, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for moving said rollers so that the coacting portions of said rollers move in a path substantially tangential to the long axis of the glove heating form at the end thereof in the stripping station, said rollers being adapted to move toward a heating form in the stripping station and away from said heating form when said heating form is being rotated.

9. In a glove finishing machine a plurality of turning forms, means for intermittently rotating said forms through a mounting station, a tucking station, and a turning station, a plurality of heating forms in spaced relation to the turning forms, means for rotating the heating forms intermittently through the turning station 45 and into a stripping station and in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the turning forms, one of the turning forms andlone of the heating forms being simultaneously at rest at the turning station during a predetermined period, reciprocating cuff clamps adapted to turn a glove from one of the turning forms to one of the heating forms in the turning station, means at the tucking stationto inwardly tuck the fingers and thumb of the glove, a stripping mechanism adapted to strip a glove from a heating form in the stripping station comprising a substantially longitudinal frame pivoted at one end about a fixed axis spaced from and perpendicular to the long axis of a glove heating form in the stripping station, a pair of revoluble coacting rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of saidheating form in the stripping station, said rollers being journaled on and near the opposite unpivotcd end of said frame, means forfrotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for pivoting said frame about said fixed axis to move the coacting portions of said rollers in a limited arc tangential to the long axis of the heating form in the stripping station, said rollers being adapted to move toward and engage a glove on the glove heating form in the stripping station and said rollers being adapted to move away from said heating forms when said heating forms are rotating.

10. The invention according to claim 9 in which the means for rotating the stripping rollers in opposite directions comprises a continuous belt passing between the stripping rollers and separate roller means for driving said belt.

11. In a glove pressing and stripping machine, a glove form, a frame mounted below said form for limited vertical reciprocatory movement, a pair of revoluble coacting rollers arranged for rotation in opposite directions on opposite sides and at the end of said glove form, said rollers being journaled in said frame, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for vertically reciprocating said frame to move the coacting portions of said rollers in a path substantially tangential to the long axis of said glove form to enable the rotating rollers to engage and strip a glove from said form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,184,521 Gerber Dec. 26, 1939 

